Coastal Stormwater Management Through Green Infrastructure a Handbook for Municipalities
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Coastal Stormwater Management Through Green Infrastructure A Handbook for Municipalities ft EA~United States EPA 842-R-14-004 -..w~ Environmental Protection ~.,. Agency December 2014 NATIONAL Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds National Estuary Program ESTUARY PROGRAM Acknowledgements EPA would like to thank the Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Program Director, Staff, and Regional Coordinators for reviewing the document and providing useful and valuable input. This handbook was developed under EPA Contract No. EP-C-11-009. Cover Photo Credit: Maureen Thomas, Town of Kingston, MA Coastal Stormwater Management through Green Infrastructure December 2014 Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. What is Green Infrastructure? .................................................................................................. 1 1.2. Benefits of Green Infrastructure ............................................................................................... 3 1.3. Regulatory Background ............................................................................................................ 5 1.4. Green Infrastructure Maintenance ........................................................................................... 5 1.5. Incorporating Green Infrastructure into Existing Municipal Programs and Facilities .................. 6 1.6. Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Program Technical Assistance ........................................ 7 1.7. Case Study: Jones River Estuary and Kingston Bay Stormwater Assessment Project .................. 9 1.8. Handbook Components .......................................................................................................... 12 1.9. References ............................................................................................................................. 13 2. Watershed Assessment .................................................................................................................. 15 2.1. Part 1: Identify and Engage Stakeholders ............................................................................... 17 2.2. Part 2: Identify Study Watershed............................................................................................ 18 2.3. Part 3: Identify Existing Hydrologic and Hydraulic Data ........................................................... 19 2.3.1. Types of Data ................................................................................................................. 19 2.3.2. GIS Data for Massachusetts ............................................................................................ 20 2.3.3. Hydrologic and Hydraulic Data Summary ........................................................................ 20 2.3.4. Additional Data Resources .............................................................................................. 21 2.3.5. Summary of Additional Data Resources .......................................................................... 22 2.4. Part 4: Characterize Known Pollutant Loadings ....................................................................... 22 2.5. Part 5: Identify Existing BMP and Green Infrastructure Practices ............................................ 23 2.6. Part 6: Identify Additional Data Needs .................................................................................... 24 2.6.1. Water Quality Sampling .................................................................................................. 24 2.6.2. Field Reconnaissance ...................................................................................................... 24 2.6.3. Wetlands ........................................................................................................................ 25 2.7. Part 7: Identify Sources of Funding ......................................................................................... 25 2.8. References ............................................................................................................................. 28 3. Identifying Green Infrastructure Opportunities .............................................................................. 29 3.1. Identification of Target Subwatersheds .................................................................................. 30 3.2. Primary Screening of Potential BMP Locations ....................................................................... 31 3.3. Secondary Screening and Prioritization .................................................................................. 32 3.3.1. Prioritization Criteria ...................................................................................................... 32 i Coastal Stormwater Management through Green Infrastructure December 2014 3.3.2. Prioritization Methodology (Site Scoring)........................................................................ 35 4. Site Assessment, Planning, and Design ........................................................................................... 38 4.1. Site Planning and Design Principles ........................................................................................ 38 4.2. Preparing Conceptual Design Plans ........................................................................................ 43 4.2.1. Preliminary Geotechnical Investigation ........................................................................... 43 4.2.2. Modeling and Optimization of BMP Placement for Green Infrastructure Sites ................ 43 4.2.3. EPA Stormwater Calculator ............................................................................................. 44 4.2.4. Stormwater Management Optimization Tool .................................................................. 44 4.2.5. Conceptual Design Report .............................................................................................. 46 4.2.6. Conceptual Plan ............................................................................................................. 47 4.3. References ............................................................................................................................. 48 5. Green Infrastructure Practices ....................................................................................................... 49 5.1. Selecting Green Infrastructure BMPs (BMP Selection Matrix) ................................................. 50 5.2. BMP Sizing ............................................................................................................................. 52 5.3. Common Green Infrastructure Practices ................................................................................ 52 5.3.1. Vegetated Filter Strips .................................................................................................... 52 5.3.2. Bioretention ................................................................................................................... 54 5.3.3. Constructed Stormwater Wetlands ................................................................................. 56 5.3.4. Tree Box Filters ............................................................................................................... 57 5.3.5. Sand Filters ..................................................................................................................... 60 5.3.6. Grassed Swales ............................................................................................................... 62 5.3.7. Water Quality Swales ..................................................................................................... 62 5.3.8. Cisterns and Rain Barrels ................................................................................................ 64 5.3.9. Green Roofs ................................................................................................................... 65 5.3.10. Permeable Pavement ..................................................................................................... 65 5.4. Cold Climate Considerations ................................................................................................... 68 5.5. BMP Construction and Post-Construction Issues .................................................................... 68 5.5.1. BMP Construction .......................................................................................................... 68 5.5.2. Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control Practices........................................................ 69 5.5.3. BMP Construction Inspection ......................................................................................... 71 5.5.4. BMP Inspection and Maintenance .................................................................................. 72 5.6. References ............................................................................................................................. 74 6. Green Infrastructure Review Process ............................................................................................. 82 6.1. Local Review Process.............................................................................................................. 82 ii Coastal Stormwater Management through Green Infrastructure December 2014 6.2. Massachusetts Plan Review and Permitting Process ..............................................................